It used to be a singer and a band could work arduously at their craft, go gig and make money. It used to be if a band wanted to record an album after playing in clubs and touring, they could record a demo, send it in and most likely get signed to a decent record label. What used to be was cool, fresh, raw and real. Unfiltered and untouched by fancy editing programs and tuning machines. This is what used to be and will never be again.
In today's modern day pop culture and music scene, almost anyone can get noticed in some form of media. With the continuous advancements of technology, social media has officially taken over and the new norm for a ‘wanna be artist’ to make a name for themselves has changed dramatically. Production values have changed from real time studio work to on the spot editing and voice altering/manipulation.
If you wanted to be an artist in the 60's, 70's and 80's, becoming a musician was a career of trial and error, ups and downs, hard work and dedication. You had to have a talent, a skill, the verve to back up your performing attributes and a network of people. You hired a manager, a production team and your record label who if they signed you, invested in you. A lot of money was made, but even more was lost. Investors (namely production companies/record labels), lost a lot of money on artists that only went so far. Artists who were known as ‘one hit wonders,’ particularly in the 1980's, sold millions of records, but couldn't really tour and make money off of just one hit, so they were quickly dropped from their label. So as quickly as they rose, they fell.
Enter into the 90's and 2000's and a computer program can magically turn the most tone deaf singer into Michael Buble. Well, maybe not quite that extreme, but with the enhancements of auto tune and post edit programming, wondrous things can be done to manipulate your sound.
Add in YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia and Google, you've got yourself a recording career. Posting your music on iTunes, Soundcloud and Myspace and well, you may as well call yourself a star. Hey, if Rebecca Black can do it, why can't you?
No need to slave over your craft for years, fail and triumph, record a demo and send it in to a respected producer with fingers crossed. Geffen Records, Virgin, Capitol, MCA, they're all afraid of losing money on you.
They have investors to satisfy. If you don't make good on your product and sell millions of records and have sold out tours on a bi-annual basis, well then you're screwed. Producers don't have the time, energy or money to invest in artists anymore. There is too much liability, so reality singing competitions have taken over along with the internet.
So, if you are looking to make a name for yourself in the music industry, ask yourself these three very important questions first; 1. Do I want to produce and own my own music? 2. Do I want to start on youtube or play local clubs until I maybe get noticed by somebody? 3. Do I have the money, energy and time to front/produce my own album? I myself really wonder, entering into 2014, will the music own the industry or will the industry own the music?
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with your questions about singing.
Andrea Ceron.
ACVocals
403.923.0345
